Artificial skull



Nov. 7, 1 933. R R BALUT 1,933,958

ARTIFICIAL SKULL Filed May 17, 1932 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES] ARTIFICIAL SKULL Rudolph R. Balut Kings'ton, Pa. Application May 17, 1932. Serial No. 612,909 r 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to animal heads, and particularly to skulls for use in connection with fur scarfs, boas, neck-pieces and the like, having for its primary object to provide an effective and realistic skull which will be' strong and durable and which is so constructed as to prevent deformation of the head incident to long and extensive use.

A further object or" the invention is to provide cidentally separated from the skull is eliminated...

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, parts an artificial skull constructed in the invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the skull with the mouth clasp removed,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the skull,

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the skull, a part being broken away,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the skull taken substantially upon line 5-5 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectiona line 6-6 of Fig. 5. I

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the skull includes a relatively wide sheel or crown portion '7, from the forward end of which projects a snout portion 8 of restricted width. The rear end of the skull is preferably opened as shown. The skull is formed of relatively thin, pliable material such as rubber, but it will be understood that it may be made of other materials if so desired. The skull and the forwardly projecting snout or nose piece are made in such proportions as will be best adapted to the animal to be simulated, and it will be understood that the fur of the animal will be fitted closely upon the broken away, of accordance with view taken upon skull and glass eyes inserted at the proper place near the forepart of the crown.

Associated with the skull is a clasp 9 ordinarily employed as a I longitudinally beneath'the skull or snout piece thereof. This clasp includes hingedly connected plates 10-11, the hinge pin 12 of which connects interfitting ears 13 near the rear ends of the plates, and a spring 14 associated with the hinge pin and plates normally holds the jaws of the clasp in grasping position. n l

The plate 10 is firmly aflixed to the underpart of the skull, and the snout portion is provided with a longitudinally disposed recess 15 for the snug accommodation of the plate 10. The extreme forward end of the snout on its undersurface is provided with a pocket 16 for the ac-- commodation of the extremity of the plate, while flange portions 17'project inwardly from the sides of the snout to underlie the plate and assist in retaining the same in proper position. The plate 10 is usually provided with a central longitudinal rib 18 serving as a strengthening element, and the slot. or opening 19 between the flanges 17 serves to accommodate the said rib as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The clasp extends rearwardly beyond the snout portion,and as a support for said rearwardly protruding portion, a post 20 is provided. This support constitutes a spacing element interposed between the crown 7 and the plate 10, the lower or operative face of the support being disposed in substantially the same plane with the pocket 16. The said lower or operative face of the support is provided at its longitudinal edges with outwardly protruding shoulders orguides 21 to prevent lateral sliding movement of the clasp plate. The'support 20 is preferably formed integral with the skull and is therefore of the same material as the latter. The said support may extend forwardly from its rearmost point to its juncture with the snout portion, or for the sake of economy of material, may constitute a post disposed directly above the rear portion of the clasp.

An effective means for retaining the clasp in position within the skull, and without resort to additional securing elements or means, the lateral edges of the clasp plate 10 may be serrated or toothed as at 22. These teeth may be inclined in the direction of forward movement of the clasp, presenting abrupt shoulders at the rear ends of the teeth. This structure facilitates the ready application of the plate Within the snoutbut resists rearward movement by reason jaw, disposed centrally and T Y iGFFipE 2 of the shoulders locking within the material of the snout.

With the skull and clasp constructed in accordance with the foregoing it is at once obvious 5 that the clasp may be quickly, easily and properly inserted without the exercise of special skill or tools, andno retaining means other than the teeth 22 and the flanges 17 are required in maintaining the clasp properly positioned. When properly applied the rear portion of the clasp lies directly beneath the support or post 20, so that pressure applied to the rear end of the clasp plate 11 by grasping the skull in the hands will be resisted by the post or support 20 with 15 out possibility of collapsing or deforming the crown portion 7. The post or support, thus maintains the crown at all times in 'proper' dis tended position, and the particular construction and assemblage prevents cocking of the clasp 20 due to improper grasping and operationof the By means of the construction and assemblage of, the skull and clasp as heretofore described, it i sfapp arent that the various objects of the Hav ng thus described my invention, I claim:,- 1; In an animal head, a skullhaving a snout andafiexible crown portionfa clasp having its jaw end secured in said snout andits operating 0 end disposed beneath said crown portion, and a support integral with said skull and interposed Wt a dc e n nr n ai O e atin end.

35,;1 crown portions, said snout portion having a pocket 'inits un der surface, a support depending fronr saidfcrown'portion and having its lower surface i s d in' he am P n wi h s i rqck t a cla sp having one end engaged in said; pocket aall j p lq i d d, t dfill p t as, a

In an animal head, a skullhaving snout and 3. In an animal head, a skull having snout and crown portions, said snout portion having a pocket near its forward end, a support integral with and depending from said crown portion and having its lower surface disposed in alinement with said pocket, a clasp having its forward end engaged in said pocket and its rear end engaged with said support, and means on said support to hold said clasp against lateral movement.

4'. In an animal head, a skull having a snout portion, fiangesprojecting inwardly from the lateral edges of said snout on the under face thereof, and a clasp having its lateral edges engaged by said flanges, said flanges overlying said edges;

5. In an animal head, a skull having a snout portion, flanges projecting inwardly from the lateral edges of, said snout upon the under face thereof a clasp plate, a rib on said plate disposed longitudinally thereof, said rib engaged by said flanges to hold the plate against, lateral move- 6. In an animal head, a skull having a snout, apocket on the under face of 'said snout near the forward end thereof, flanges projecting inwardly from the laterale'dges of said snouton the under facethereof, and a clasp plate having its end engaged in said pocket and itssurface' engaged by said flanges. I

'7. In an animal head, a skullliaving a snout, a pocket in said snout, a clasp plate, andteeth on the'lateral'edges of said plate to engage in the walls of said pocket.

8. man animal head, a skull having a snout and. a pliable crown portion, a clasp having its jaw portions disposed beneath said snout and its operating portion beneath said crown portion, and a substantially rigid support interposed between said crown'and said operating portions.

V i RUDOLPH R. BALUT. 

